Mick's dad says she should finish school, though – she shouldn't take a job. The rest of the family all agrees that it would be a mistake for Mick to have a full-time job at her age.

But Mick asks about the pay, which is ten dollars a week. (That would be more than $160 today.)

She says that she wants to take the job to help the family, but that she'll just work this summer and then return to school. Sounds fair enough.

Hazel quickly agrees, at which point Mick realizes what's happening: "It was like she had been trapped into something. The job wouldn't just be for the summer – but for a long time, as long as she could see ahead. Once they were used to the money coming in it would be impossible to do without again." (2.14.99)

Mick is horribly stressed out, but she can't back down now. She asks Singer what he thinks, and he agrees that she should take the job.

She lands the job without trouble and starts work on June 5. Off she goes.